The brilliant student had struggled with anorexia in the past, but had been bursting with health and happiness before commencing her degree in English and creative writing at the University of East Anglia in Norwich.

It had taken just weeks to starve herself to the state in which horrified Nic found her.

Recalling the scene, he said: “She had ten weeks at university, during which time she went from a bouncy, happy, well cared for young lass to being at death’s door.”

Investigators warned Averil’s death was ‘avoidable’ with multiple missed opportunities to save her life

Averil was discharged, despite being under her target weight, in August 2012 to take up her place at the University of East Anglia, 60 miles from her home in Colchester, Essex.

Her care was taken on by the university GP service and outpatient eating disorder services in Norwich.

Medics warned in her discharge papers that she was “vulnerable to subsequent relapse”.

Doctors stressed that she needed ongoing monitoring and support to help her negotiate three potentially stressful events — leaving home, starting at university and coming under the care of a different NHS eating disorders service.

Nic said of the report: “As a parent I suppose it is a great relief to finally know that the words you knew were true all along and that Averil’s death was avoidable.

“It is good to know that the report itself will enable other children and families to potentially not have to go through what we have been through.

“It was a needless death, it did not have to happen. It took only ten weeks for her to go from fit and healthy to being at death’s door.

“We still can’t believe that Averil is no longer with us.”

But now, instead of fighting for answers, he hopes he can focus his energy on his memories.

He said “I’m ready to let go, connect with my wonderful girl and think about her.”

Timeline of tragedy

Autumn 2011

Averil is diagnosed with anorexia and spends almost a year as an inpatient at Eating Disorders Unit in Cambridge.

August 2012

She is discharged early to take up a place at the University of East Anglia.

September 20, 2012

Averil has her first meeting with Norwich eating disorder services. She weighs 6st 10lb.

November 8, 2012

Her last GP appointment at UEA. She is meant to be seen weekly but locum doc tells her not to come back for a month.

November 27, 2012

Dad Nic and sister Imogen visit Averil and realise she is seriously ill. They call the Eating Disorders Unit for emergency help but nothing is done.

December 7, 2012

Campus cleaner Carol finds Averil unconscious in her room. She is taken to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital with dangerously low temperature, blood sugar and blood pressure but medics don’t realise how gravely ill she is for three days.